Thabo Ditsele | Tshwane University of Technology (original) (raw)
Books by Thabo Ditsele
Talks by Thabo Ditsele
Short stories by Thabo Ditsele
PhD Thesis by Thabo Ditsele
The objective of this study is to draw out, and establish, the attitudes held by Setswana first l... more The objective of this study is to draw out, and establish, the attitudes held by Setswana first language (L1)-speaking university students toward their L1, in a context of that L1 being one of the many spoken in a multilingual society, South Africa. The study also aims to test the potential influence of the following nine variables on attitudes toward Setswana: (1) gender; (2) age group; (3) years at university; (4) level of study; (5) competence in Setswana; (6) linguality; (7) location of nurture; (8) field of study; and, (9) type of university attended. The following variables are new in language attitudes studies in South Africa: competence in one’s L1; linguality; location of nurture; and, type of university attended. The other five variables were previously tested, thus, this study’s findings will be compared, particularly with those of Dyers (1999), Dalvit (2004), and Aziakpono (2007).
Using mixed methods, the data were gathered from students at five universities (three public, and two private) in Gauteng province. Quantitative data were analysed using means, and the chi-square test, while the remaining data were analysed qualitatively.
The findings reveal that the respondents believed that their L1 would be spoken by many generations to come, and was not under the threat of extinction; they supported ‘mother tongue education’, on condition that English was sufficiently taught as an ‘additional language’ for communication purposes with a larger audience; they wanted universities to develop Black South African languages (BSALs) to a point where they would be used in support materials for the students with weaker competence in English; and, they wanted BSALs being equitably developed, in order for their speakers to derive the same educational benefits derived by L1 speakers of English and Afrikaans.
Statistical evidence (p ≤ 0.05) showed that the following six variables had statistically-significant relationships with at least one of the 16 belief statements: (1) age group; (2) years at university; (3) level of study; (4) competence in Setswana; (5) field of study; and, (6) type of university attended. The following three variables did not have statistically-significant relationships with any of the 16 belief statements: (1) gender; (2) linguality; and, (3) location of nurture. Some researchers, such as Aziakpono (2007: 4 & 117) and Mann (2009: 359), found that gender was statistically significant in influencing attitudes toward isiXhosa and Anglo-Nigerian Pidgin (ANP), respectively. Linguality and location of nurture were new variables in ‘language attitudes’ studies in South Africa, thus, could not be compared with any previous studies. However, outside South Africa, Mann (2009: 359) also found that linguality did not evince any statistical significance, with regard to attitudes toward ANP.
In summary, this study revealed that these Setswana L1-speaking university students held positive attitudes toward their L1.
Papers by Thabo Ditsele
Global Perspectives on Youth Language Practices, 2022
The Journal for Transdisciplinary Research in Southern Africa, 2020
South African Journal of African Languages, 2021
This study investigated morphological and lexical features of an urban vernacular spoken in Mande... more This study investigated morphological and lexical features of an urban vernacular spoken in Mandeni, KwaZulu- Natal. The speech community in Mandeni refers to this urban vernacular as ‘Mandeni tsotsitaal’; however, it is referred to as ‘Mandeni urban vernacular’ (MUV) in this study because it had not been researched before, thus there was no evidence that it was a ‘tsotsitaal variety’. This study compared MUV’s morphological features with those of standard isiZulu because the latter is the former’s base or matrix language. It adopted a qualitative research approach using recordings (i.e. conversations with seven participants) and text analysis (i.e. a corpus developed from transcriptions of the recordings) to gather data. The study revealed that while MUV’s morphology aligned with that of standard isiZulu, there were minor deviations, which included unusual concordial agreement in the form of noun class shift (from class 1a to class 5), indefiniteness (marked by the class 10 concord), reversed derivational patterns (e.g. from nouns to verbs) and the use of foreign-bound morphemes. It also revealed that there were tsotsitaal lexical items and new unique lexical items that were used by the participants.
Language Matters, 2020
This study analyses written and spoken corpora of three South African political party leaders (Ja... more This study analyses written and spoken corpora of three South African political party leaders (Jacob Zuma of the African National Congress [ANC], Mmusi Maimane of the Democratic Alliance [DA], and Julius Malema of the Economic Freedom Fighters [EFF]) in different discourse contexts. A mixed-methods approach was used to collect the data, while Critical Discourse Analysis and text analysis constituted the analytical framework. Twelve political-leader speeches (four each), three senior party official interviews, and seventeen focus group interviews with the voting public were explored as data. The findings established that each political leader had his own persuasive strategies and choice of words, usually aligned with his ideological and personal agenda, and that these political leaders were not entirely responsible for their speeches. The study concludes that these political leaders used and chose words strategically in their speeches to persuade and manipulate their audiences.
Literator, 2020
This article established how a mixed language spoken as a lingua franca by black residents of Tsh... more This article established how a mixed language spoken as a lingua franca by black residents of Tshwane, known as Sepitori, influenced learners who studied Setswana as a home language at three high schools in GaRankuwa, Mabopane and Soshanguve; all these three townships are located north of Pretoria’s central business district. Data were gathered from 90 learners (30 from each school) and six Setswana educators from the same schools. Learners wrote an essay in Setswana on an interesting and contemporary topic ‘free education for all university students’, while educators were interviewed individually. Data analysis showed that Sepitori significantly influenced the written output of learners. Some educators were adamant that it was unreasonable to wish away Sepitori in Setswana classrooms because learners and many educators (regardless of the subjects they taught) ordinarily spoke Sepitori at the three townships be it at school or at home.
Journal of the Musical Arts in Africa, 2017
South African Journal of African Languages, 2016
The aim of this survey was to establish the attitudes held by South African Setswana L1-speaking ... more The aim of this survey was to establish the attitudes held by South African Setswana L1-speaking university students toward their L1, as no survey has up to date been conducted exclusively among university students whose L1 is Setswana, whether in South Africa or Botswana. The random sampling method was used to gather data from 247 students who studied at public and private universities in Gauteng province, South Africa, using mixed methods. Four variables were tested, namely: Competence in Setswana; Linguality; Location of nurture; and Type of university attended. Means, chi-square test and percentages were used to analyse data, and means showed that all variables favourably influenced respondents’ attitudes toward their L1, albeit to varying degrees with Competence in Setswana being the most influential. However, the chi-square test showed that such influence was not statistically significant (p ≤ 0.05). Respondents believed that their L1 had limitations in wider society; and that it had prestige, albeit a covert one. Generally, they held favourable attitudes toward their L1. Further comprehensive research needs to be done to explore these new variables, as well as to explore their statistical significance in language attitude studies.
Literator, 2017
Previous language attitudes studies among public university students in South Africa have shown t... more Previous language attitudes studies among public university students in South Africa have shown that these five variables – gender, age group, year of study, level of study and field of study – influence students’ attitudes towards languages. Thus, the aim of this survey was to establish if testing these variables on Setswana L1-speaking university students (n = 247) will confirm previous studies, seeing that this is the first study to gather data exclusively among Setswana L1-speaking university students at five universities (both public and private) in Tshwane and Johannesburg up to doctoral level. Never before had data been gathered among students at private universities in South Africa, and this gap had weakened generalisations that previous surveys could make about all university students. Mixed methods were used to gather data, which were analysed using means, chi-square test and percentages. The five variables were tested for statistical significance in influencing language a...
Literator, 2016
This article focuses on the theme of linguistic innovation and expands on recent studies of the S... more This article focuses on the theme of linguistic innovation and expands on recent studies of the South African linguistic phenomenon tsotsitaal to show that it has travelled from its epicentre of Gauteng province into the North West province (henceforth North West), where it uses Setswana as its Matrix Language because it is the dominant language in the North West. Data were gathered from the North West’s three largest cities, namely, Rustenburg, Klerksdorp and Potchefstroom. The article presents examples of tsotsitaal spoken in the three cities and analyses its linguistic structure and lexical items. The significance of this tsotsitaal study is that it is the first to be conducted exclusively amongst first language (L1) Setswana speakers in an environment where the language is the most dominant – the North West. The study confirms previous literature which describes the phenomenon as a register of the urban form. It furthermore suggests that new lexical innovations at a local level ...
South African Journal of African Languages, 2014
There is undisputed evidence that the use of so-called non-standard varieties of language in Sout... more There is undisputed evidence that the use of so-called non-standard varieties of language in South Africa is on the increase, and serves as an important communication bridge for a supranation that has many people of different ethnicities living side-by-side in different urban settings in the country. This paper illustrates, using Sepitori (also called ‘Pretoria Sotho’) as a case in point, that non-standard varieties should be explored further with a view to institutionally recording, formalising and supporting them. The paper does this through, first, showing that Sepitori is a mixed language that is used as a lingua franca by many people; second, by re-visiting the literature that demonstrates the important and crucial role played by non-standard varieties in a multilingual society, such as, South Africa, particularly with regard to formal settings (e.g., classrooms, formal meetings, and the media); and, third, by using the strength of such literature to call for a change in attitudes by language purists, who should realise that the sooner non-standard varieties are allowed space beyond the use in informal settings, the better it would be for further development of standard varieties.
The objective of this study is to draw out, and establish, the attitudes held by Setswana first l... more The objective of this study is to draw out, and establish, the attitudes held by Setswana first language (L1)-speaking university students toward their L1, in a context of that L1 being one of the many spoken in a multilingual society, South Africa. The study also aims to test the potential influence of the following nine variables on attitudes toward Setswana: (1) gender; (2) age group; (3) years at university; (4) level of study; (5) competence in Setswana; (6) linguality; (7) location of nurture; (8) field of study; and, (9) type of university attended. The following variables are new in language attitudes studies in South Africa: competence in one’s L1; linguality; location of nurture; and, type of university attended. The other five variables were previously tested, thus, this study’s findings will be compared, particularly with those of Dyers (1999), Dalvit (2004), and Aziakpono (2007).
Using mixed methods, the data were gathered from students at five universities (three public, and two private) in Gauteng province. Quantitative data were analysed using means, and the chi-square test, while the remaining data were analysed qualitatively.
The findings reveal that the respondents believed that their L1 would be spoken by many generations to come, and was not under the threat of extinction; they supported ‘mother tongue education’, on condition that English was sufficiently taught as an ‘additional language’ for communication purposes with a larger audience; they wanted universities to develop Black South African languages (BSALs) to a point where they would be used in support materials for the students with weaker competence in English; and, they wanted BSALs being equitably developed, in order for their speakers to derive the same educational benefits derived by L1 speakers of English and Afrikaans.
Statistical evidence (p ≤ 0.05) showed that the following six variables had statistically-significant relationships with at least one of the 16 belief statements: (1) age group; (2) years at university; (3) level of study; (4) competence in Setswana; (5) field of study; and, (6) type of university attended. The following three variables did not have statistically-significant relationships with any of the 16 belief statements: (1) gender; (2) linguality; and, (3) location of nurture. Some researchers, such as Aziakpono (2007: 4 & 117) and Mann (2009: 359), found that gender was statistically significant in influencing attitudes toward isiXhosa and Anglo-Nigerian Pidgin (ANP), respectively. Linguality and location of nurture were new variables in ‘language attitudes’ studies in South Africa, thus, could not be compared with any previous studies. However, outside South Africa, Mann (2009: 359) also found that linguality did not evince any statistical significance, with regard to attitudes toward ANP.
In summary, this study revealed that these Setswana L1-speaking university students held positive attitudes toward their L1.
Global Perspectives on Youth Language Practices, 2022
The Journal for Transdisciplinary Research in Southern Africa, 2020
South African Journal of African Languages, 2021
This study investigated morphological and lexical features of an urban vernacular spoken in Mande... more This study investigated morphological and lexical features of an urban vernacular spoken in Mandeni, KwaZulu- Natal. The speech community in Mandeni refers to this urban vernacular as ‘Mandeni tsotsitaal’; however, it is referred to as ‘Mandeni urban vernacular’ (MUV) in this study because it had not been researched before, thus there was no evidence that it was a ‘tsotsitaal variety’. This study compared MUV’s morphological features with those of standard isiZulu because the latter is the former’s base or matrix language. It adopted a qualitative research approach using recordings (i.e. conversations with seven participants) and text analysis (i.e. a corpus developed from transcriptions of the recordings) to gather data. The study revealed that while MUV’s morphology aligned with that of standard isiZulu, there were minor deviations, which included unusual concordial agreement in the form of noun class shift (from class 1a to class 5), indefiniteness (marked by the class 10 concord), reversed derivational patterns (e.g. from nouns to verbs) and the use of foreign-bound morphemes. It also revealed that there were tsotsitaal lexical items and new unique lexical items that were used by the participants.
Language Matters, 2020
This study analyses written and spoken corpora of three South African political party leaders (Ja... more This study analyses written and spoken corpora of three South African political party leaders (Jacob Zuma of the African National Congress [ANC], Mmusi Maimane of the Democratic Alliance [DA], and Julius Malema of the Economic Freedom Fighters [EFF]) in different discourse contexts. A mixed-methods approach was used to collect the data, while Critical Discourse Analysis and text analysis constituted the analytical framework. Twelve political-leader speeches (four each), three senior party official interviews, and seventeen focus group interviews with the voting public were explored as data. The findings established that each political leader had his own persuasive strategies and choice of words, usually aligned with his ideological and personal agenda, and that these political leaders were not entirely responsible for their speeches. The study concludes that these political leaders used and chose words strategically in their speeches to persuade and manipulate their audiences.
Literator, 2020
This article established how a mixed language spoken as a lingua franca by black residents of Tsh... more This article established how a mixed language spoken as a lingua franca by black residents of Tshwane, known as Sepitori, influenced learners who studied Setswana as a home language at three high schools in GaRankuwa, Mabopane and Soshanguve; all these three townships are located north of Pretoria’s central business district. Data were gathered from 90 learners (30 from each school) and six Setswana educators from the same schools. Learners wrote an essay in Setswana on an interesting and contemporary topic ‘free education for all university students’, while educators were interviewed individually. Data analysis showed that Sepitori significantly influenced the written output of learners. Some educators were adamant that it was unreasonable to wish away Sepitori in Setswana classrooms because learners and many educators (regardless of the subjects they taught) ordinarily spoke Sepitori at the three townships be it at school or at home.
Journal of the Musical Arts in Africa, 2017
South African Journal of African Languages, 2016
The aim of this survey was to establish the attitudes held by South African Setswana L1-speaking ... more The aim of this survey was to establish the attitudes held by South African Setswana L1-speaking university students toward their L1, as no survey has up to date been conducted exclusively among university students whose L1 is Setswana, whether in South Africa or Botswana. The random sampling method was used to gather data from 247 students who studied at public and private universities in Gauteng province, South Africa, using mixed methods. Four variables were tested, namely: Competence in Setswana; Linguality; Location of nurture; and Type of university attended. Means, chi-square test and percentages were used to analyse data, and means showed that all variables favourably influenced respondents’ attitudes toward their L1, albeit to varying degrees with Competence in Setswana being the most influential. However, the chi-square test showed that such influence was not statistically significant (p ≤ 0.05). Respondents believed that their L1 had limitations in wider society; and that it had prestige, albeit a covert one. Generally, they held favourable attitudes toward their L1. Further comprehensive research needs to be done to explore these new variables, as well as to explore their statistical significance in language attitude studies.
Literator, 2017
Previous language attitudes studies among public university students in South Africa have shown t... more Previous language attitudes studies among public university students in South Africa have shown that these five variables – gender, age group, year of study, level of study and field of study – influence students’ attitudes towards languages. Thus, the aim of this survey was to establish if testing these variables on Setswana L1-speaking university students (n = 247) will confirm previous studies, seeing that this is the first study to gather data exclusively among Setswana L1-speaking university students at five universities (both public and private) in Tshwane and Johannesburg up to doctoral level. Never before had data been gathered among students at private universities in South Africa, and this gap had weakened generalisations that previous surveys could make about all university students. Mixed methods were used to gather data, which were analysed using means, chi-square test and percentages. The five variables were tested for statistical significance in influencing language a...
Literator, 2016
This article focuses on the theme of linguistic innovation and expands on recent studies of the S... more This article focuses on the theme of linguistic innovation and expands on recent studies of the South African linguistic phenomenon tsotsitaal to show that it has travelled from its epicentre of Gauteng province into the North West province (henceforth North West), where it uses Setswana as its Matrix Language because it is the dominant language in the North West. Data were gathered from the North West’s three largest cities, namely, Rustenburg, Klerksdorp and Potchefstroom. The article presents examples of tsotsitaal spoken in the three cities and analyses its linguistic structure and lexical items. The significance of this tsotsitaal study is that it is the first to be conducted exclusively amongst first language (L1) Setswana speakers in an environment where the language is the most dominant – the North West. The study confirms previous literature which describes the phenomenon as a register of the urban form. It furthermore suggests that new lexical innovations at a local level ...
South African Journal of African Languages, 2014
There is undisputed evidence that the use of so-called non-standard varieties of language in Sout... more There is undisputed evidence that the use of so-called non-standard varieties of language in South Africa is on the increase, and serves as an important communication bridge for a supranation that has many people of different ethnicities living side-by-side in different urban settings in the country. This paper illustrates, using Sepitori (also called ‘Pretoria Sotho’) as a case in point, that non-standard varieties should be explored further with a view to institutionally recording, formalising and supporting them. The paper does this through, first, showing that Sepitori is a mixed language that is used as a lingua franca by many people; second, by re-visiting the literature that demonstrates the important and crucial role played by non-standard varieties in a multilingual society, such as, South Africa, particularly with regard to formal settings (e.g., classrooms, formal meetings, and the media); and, third, by using the strength of such literature to call for a change in attitudes by language purists, who should realise that the sooner non-standard varieties are allowed space beyond the use in informal settings, the better it would be for further development of standard varieties.
Southern African Linguistics and Applied Language Studies, 2014
According to Census 2011, six official languages of South Africa experienced negative growth in a... more According to Census 2011, six official languages of South Africa experienced negative growth in a 10-year period (2001–2011), and all of them are Black South African languages (BSALs).1 The remaining five languages experienced positive growth. According to Webb (2010), urban dwellers reject standard varieties of BSALs and perceive them as symbols of traditionalism, lacking the required legitimacy and regarding them as inadequate and inferior. Calteaux (1996) notes that urban dwellers use Black Urban Vernaculars (BUVs) – which are also non-standard varieties – to bridge language barriers and their use is no longer limited to informal domains, but has also spread to formal domains. In reconciling Webb (2010) and Calteaux (1996), standard varieties of BSALs are on a decline among urban dwellers, while BUVs are on an increase. If these trends were to continue, standard varieties of BSALs would likely decline even further as South Africa becomes more urbanised, and BUVs would likely grow further. This article proposes that non-standard varieties should be used to enrich the vocabularies of standard ones so as to reverse these trends. Were the vocabularies used by urban dwellers to be incorporated into the standard varieties of BSALs, there is potential that urban dwellers would change the way they view BSALs. The article will use the example of Sepitori2 – a non-standard variety of the Tshwane metropolitan municipal region – to demonstrate how it could be used to enrich the vocabularies of its two ancestral languages – Setswana and Sepedi.3 Sufficient evidence from a comprehensive study on Sepitori could be brought before ‘language development’ stakeholders, and subsequently to a standardisation body to make a case for its contribution to enriching Setswana and Sepedi.
South African Journal of African Languages, 2014
There is undisputed evidence that the use of so-called non-standard varieties of language in Sout... more There is undisputed evidence that the use of so-called non-standard varieties of language in South Africa is on the increase, and serves as an important communication bridge for a supranation that has many people of different ethnicities living side-by-side in different urban settings in the country. This paper illustrates, using Sepitori (also called ‘Pretoria Sotho’) as a case in point, that non-standard varieties should be explored further with a view to institutionally recording, formalising and supporting them. The paper does this through, first, showing that Sepitori is a mixed language that is used as a lingua franca by many people; second, by re-visiting the literature that demonstrates the important and crucial role played by non-standard varieties in a multilingual society, such as, South Africa, particularly with regard to formal settings (e.g., classrooms, formal meetings, and the media); and, third, by using the strength of such literature to call for a change in attitudes by language purists, who should realise that the sooner non-standard varieties are allowed space beyond the use in informal settings, the better it would be for further development of standard varieties.
Southern African Linguistics and Applied Language Studies, 2014
According to Census 2011, six official languages of South Africa experienced negative growth in a... more According to Census 2011, six official languages of South Africa experienced negative
growth in a 10-year period (2001–2011), and all of them are Black South African languages (BSALs).1 The remaining five languages experienced positive growth. According to Webb (2010), urban dwellers reject standard varieties of BSALs and perceive them as symbols of traditionalism, lacking the required legitimacy and regarding them as inadequate and inferior. Calteaux (1996) notes that urban dwellers use Black Urban Vernaculars (BUVs) – which are also non-standard varieties – to bridge language barriers and their use is no longer limited to informal domains, but
has also spread to formal domains. In reconciling Webb (2010) and Calteaux (1996), standard varieties of BSALs are on a decline among urban dwellers, while BUVs are on an increase. If these trends were to continue, standard varieties of BSALs would likely decline even further as South Africa becomes more urbanised, and BUVs would likely grow further. This article proposes that non-standard varieties should be used to enrich the vocabularies of standard ones so as to reverse these trends. Were the vocabularies used by urban dwellers to be incorporated into the standard varieties of BSALs, there is potential that urban dwellers would change the way they view BSALs.
The article will use the example of Sepitori2 – a non-standard variety of the Tshwane metropolitan municipal region – to demonstrate how it could be used to enrich the vocabularies of its two ancestral languages – Setswana and Sepedi.3 Sufficient evidence from a comprehensive study on Sepitori could be brought before ‘language development’ stakeholders, and subsequently to a standardisation body to make a case for its contribution to enriching Setswana and Sepedi.
South African Journal of African Languages, 2016
The aim of this survey was to establish the attitudes held by South African Setswana L1-speaking ... more The aim of this survey was to establish the attitudes held by South African Setswana L1-speaking university students toward their L1, as no survey has up to date been conducted exclusively among university students whose L1 is Setswana, whether in South Africa or Botswana. The random sampling method was used to gather data from 247 students who studied at public and private universities in Gauteng province, South Africa, using mixed methods. Four variables were tested, namely: Competence in Setswana; Linguality; Location of nurture; and Type of university attended. Means, chi-square test and percentages were used to analyse data, and means showed that all variables favourably influenced respondents’ attitudes toward their L1, albeit to varying degrees with Competence in Setswana being the most influential. However, the chi-square test showed that such influence was not statistically significant (p ≤ 0.05). Respondents believed that their L1 had limitations in wider society; and that it had prestige, albeit a covert one. Generally, they held favourable attitudes toward their L1. Further comprehensive research needs to be done to explore these new variables, as well as to explore their statistical significance in language attitude studies.
[OPEN ACCESS] This article focuses on the theme of linguistic innovation and expands on recent st... more [OPEN ACCESS] This article focuses on the theme of linguistic innovation and expands on recent studies of the South African linguistic phenomenon tsotsitaal to show that it has travelled from its epicentre of Gauteng province into the North West province (henceforth North West), where it uses Setswana as its Matrix Language because it is the dominant language in the North West. Data were gathered from the North West’s three largest cities, namely, Rustenburg, Klerksdorp and Potchefstroom. The article presents examples of tsotsitaal spoken in the three cities and analyses its linguistic structure and lexical items. The significance of this tsotsitaal study is that it is the first to be conducted exclusively amongst first language (L1) Setswana speakers in an environment where the language is the most dominant – the North West. The study confirms previous literature which describes the phenomenon as a register of the urban form. It furthermore suggests that new lexical innovations at a local level are often drawn from the local base language, in this case Setswana, because the local language offers the best opportunities for semantic shift and multiple meanings.